Reclassifying silencer

Abstract

There is disclosed a silencer for a pneumatic system, including a sound muffler containing a primary filter and removable cartridge containing an oil mist reclassifying filter.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A reclassifying silencer module for systems utilizing oil laden compressed air comprising a silencer body including connector means connectable with an exhaust line of said system and also including sound attenuating discharge openings spaced thereon, primary filter means having a first pore size assembled with said silencer body, a reclassifying filter cartridge including a filter material having a second pore size substantially smaller than said first pore size encircling said silencer body, said primary filter means and said openings without interfering with said connector means, and means releasably securing said filter cartridge with respect to the silencer body for enabling the filter cartridge to be removed independently of said silencer body and said primary filter means and replaced without disconnecting the silencer body from said system. 
     
     
       2. A reclassifying silencer module as defined in claim 1, which includes means defining a sump at a lower end of said filter cartridge for receiving coalesced oil removed from exhaust air. 
     
     
       3. A reclassifying silencer module as defined in claim 1, which includes a housing member surrounding said silencer body and said cartridge and secured with respect to said silencer body, said cartridge including an annular seal member within said housing and closing an upper end of said cylindrical body of reclassifying material, said housing comprising a portion defining a sump for reclassified oil adjacent a lower end of the cartridge, and said cartridge including an end cap closing a lower end of said sump and a lower end of said cylindrical body of reclassified material. 
     
     
       4. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means releasably securing said cartridge with respect to the silencer body comprises an annular head, said cartridge being operatively supported with said head, said silencer body extending through said head, and means extending between said silencer body and said head for detachably securing said body and said head together. 
     
     
       5. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 4, which includes a bottom end cap for closing an end of said cartridge opposite from said head and collecting oil adjacent a bottom end of said cartridge, and drain opening means for draining such collected oil. 
     
     
       6. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 5, which includes cage means connected with said annular head and surrounding said cartridge, said bottom end cap being removably connected to said cage means. 
     
     
       7. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 5, wherein said cartridge is self supporting and has an upper end secured to said annular head and a lower end secured to said bottom end cap. 
     
     
       8. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 7, wherein said cartridge comprises a relatively rigid self supporting perforated tubular member surrounding said silencer body, and a tubular layer of reclassifying filter material supported by said perforated tubular member. 
     
     
       9. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 8, wherein said layer of reclassifying filter material is disposed between said perforated tubular member and said silencer body, said cartridge further including a fabric layer surrounding said perforated body for promoting draining of coalesced oil to said bottom end cap. 
     
     
       10. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 8, wherein said cartridge further includes a tubular member of open mesh material surrounding and retaining said fabric layer. 
     
     
       11. A reclassifying silencer module comprising a silencer body connectable to an exhaust line of a pneumatic system and having a plurality of exhaust ports, a primary filter element of porous sintered material within said body and covering said ports, and a reclassifying filter cartridge detachably connected to and surrounding said silencer body, said primary filter element having pores of a first size for filtering relatively large particles from exhaust air while passing oil mist entrained in said air, and said reclassifying filter having pores of a second relatively small size for trapping and reclassifying said oil mist. 
     
     
       12. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 11, which includes a sump member releasably connectable with said cartridge for collecting reclassified oil. 
     
     
       13. A reclassifying silencer module, as defined in claim 11, wherein said reclassifying filter cartridge comprises an annular body for removably receiving said silencer body therethrough, means extending between said bodies for releasably connecting said bodies, said cartridge further including a cylinder of porous material having one end fixed to said annular body, and an end cap closing an opposite end of said cylinder.